drclaw Posted April 11, 2013 Posted April 11, 2013 (edited) This is a medal that has intrigued me for some time. Thanks to JCwaters and Richard LaTondre for information on a very rare and interesting medal. Photographs of Wang Jingwei as head of the Reorganised Government sometimes show him wearing these decorations. The first is an original signed photo that was sold last year by Huachen Auctions in China. This clearly depicts two such medals. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-70816400-1365719178.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-27000400-1365719230.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-94564400-1365719273.jpg Edited April 11, 2013 by drclaw
drclaw Posted April 11, 2013 Author Posted April 11, 2013 (edited) Richard has previously posted some notes by James Peterson, which I will repost here. Peterson describes it as being awarded in two classes. This is confirmed by the first photo of Wang Jingwei above where here is wearing two virtually identical medals. The medal's name in Mandarin is: Hépíng Jiànguó Jìniàn Zhāng. "Peaceful National Foundation Commemoration Medal These very rare medals should also probably be attributed to Wang Ching-Wei’s government. The medal is approximately 36mm silver, circular with an ornamental figure on each of the four sides and in the center a monogram of four characters on a blue medallion which is encircled by a silver wreath and an ornamental border. The ribbon is about 36mm of red plush silk with a blue and white Kuomintang sun on a blue circle in the center. At the top of the ribbon is a silver clasp with seal characters “Peaceful National Foundation Commemorative”. A lower class is in silver and gilt without enamel on a plain red, plush ribbon with the same clasp." (James Peterson) Edited April 11, 2013 by drclaw
drclaw Posted April 11, 2013 Author Posted April 11, 2013 Now an example. This is an image from Li Gongqing's website which I hope he won't mind us sharing here. His website China Medal Blog is an excellent resource on Chinese medals. His latest book will be published this year and will include medals for the Nanjing Puppet and Manchukuo governments as well as others. http://chinesemedal.wordpress.com I have his first book on Chinese Orders and it is a superb visual reference catalogue. Obverse and reverse http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-90288200-1365719883.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-36087300-1365720320.jpg
JapanX Posted April 11, 2013 Posted April 11, 2013 Great photo! Nice looking medal! Very interesting info Gavin! :beer:
drclaw Posted April 11, 2013 Author Posted April 11, 2013 Another rare award is the 1942 Visit to Japan Commemoration Medal. James Peterson's notes (thanks Richard): "A medal which was probably awarded by the government is about 50mm of dark bronze, with on the obverse a blue and white Enameled Kuomintang sun encircled by two sprays of flowers. The reverse has an inscription. The ribbon which was made made in Japan, is 37mm watered of equal purple/white/red/white/purple.” THREE of these rare medals were sold on ebay / Yahoo Japan Auctions last year within a short space of each other. Images are from ebay / Yahoo Japan Auctions. One of the medals came with three spare ribbons! By way of interest, they sold for more than US 2500 ... A description by one of the vendors: "Visit to Japan Commemoration Medal 1942 Bronze medal 3cm in diameter, 3mm thick. Ribbon, faded, 3.7 cm. Included are three swatches of new ribbon. Hook missing from suspension on reverse of ribbon." http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-73613000-1365720934.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-67979500-1365720946.jpg http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-86218000-1365720961.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-54473300-1365720989.jpg
drclaw Posted April 11, 2013 Author Posted April 11, 2013 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-85198100-1365721069.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-88930100-1365721081.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-11630-0-17487200-1365721104.jpg
JapanX Posted April 13, 2013 Posted April 13, 2013 (edited) Reverse inscription reads 中華民国国民政府主席 – President of National Government of Republic of China 訪日纪念章 – In Commemoration of Visit to Japan 民国30年6月 - 6th month 30th year of Chinese Republic Edited April 13, 2013 by JapanX
JapanX Posted April 13, 2013 Posted April 13, 2013 Funny, how close the ribbon colors resemble colors of this well-known medal
JapanX Posted April 13, 2013 Posted April 13, 2013 A couple of pictures that I believe were made during this epochal visit
drclaw Posted April 13, 2013 Author Posted April 13, 2013 Very interesting Nick! Peterson suggested that the ribbon was made in Japan. Looking at the original cased example, do you reckon the whole award was made in Japan? The quality is much better than the typical Chinese-made Nanjing Puppet awards and the case is similar to Japanese awards.
JapanX Posted April 14, 2013 Posted April 14, 2013 Looking at the original cased example, do you reckon the whole award was made in Japan? The quality is much better than the typical Chinese-made Nanjing Puppet awards and the case is similar to Japanese awards. Exactly! I was thinking about this scenario too and I think that this medal indeed could be manufactured in Japan.
JapanX Posted April 14, 2013 Posted April 14, 2013 HC is it yours? Looks like absolutely mint specimen If so, can you make HQ pictures of obverse and reverse?
JapanX Posted April 14, 2013 Posted April 14, 2013 兴复中华 保卫东亚 An interesting medal with design based on China Incident Medal. "Recovery of China to defend the East Asia" Саn you type (in chinese) four characters on the bar of the medal and complete inscription on reverse?
jcwater Posted April 14, 2013 Posted April 14, 2013 Exactly! I was thinking about this scenario too and I think that this medal indeed could be manufactured in Japan. 我想包括同光勋章在内，都是印铸局遗留在南京的工厂制造。汪系南京国民政府生产的徽章有某些细节和蒋系国民政府之前印铸局生产的徽章的细节相同。 HC is it yours? Looks like absolutely mint specimen If so, can you make HQ pictures of obverse and reverse? it`s mine
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